One of the biggest focuses of the RB culture is career progression. The fact that everyone moves roles so often helps to keep the ideas fresh and maintain a vibrant fun working environment. Recently one of my colleagues Helen Stephenson was promoted from Senior Innovation Associate within Aircare to an Innovation Manger within Scholl & Durex. A clear idea of a career path is a must have for progression within RB, however it can sometimes feel a little daunting to know where to start in terms of mapping out your career for the next 5 years. So read on to find out how Helen planned and achieved this.

Hi Helen, Congratulations again on your promotion, this must be a very exciting time for you! Has your focus and training always been within the FMCG Industry or has your career experience so far been particularly varied?

I studied for a Masters degree in Chemistry at the University of Nottingham and started to make decisions about my career during that time. I had a variety of summer jobs, but in my third year I was successful in applying for a summer internship with ICI and found myself working within the Food Ingredient R&D group at Quest International, Holland for 3 months. I really enjoyed applying technical thinking to problems with a tangible, consumer need and this led me to have a much clearer idea about what I wanted to do following my degree – I had my sights set on R&D, particularly new product development.

Following my degree I studied for a PhD in Polymer Chemistry supported by ICI and made some great friends and connections along the way. My first full-time job was working as a Project Scientist for Critical Pharmaceuticals, a spin-out company from the University of Nottingham focusing on the development of slow-release drug delivery systems. This was a great experience in technology management; I was responsible for transferring an exciting new technology from an academic setting into a commercial business. It developed my entrepreneurship and taught me a lot about securing financial support for new ideas with the responsibility to manage risk and deliver against specific time frames.

After 2 years at Critical Pharmaceuticals I decided that I wanted to look for opportunities within a big company to gain experience in the development of products closer to the market and with global reach. This led me to Reckitt Benckiser Healthcare and I joined in 2007 as a Formulation Associate on the Nurofen brand. Nurofen is a really exciting brand to work on; I was involved with all stages of product development from concept generation through to product license submission. It was a valuable experience in understanding the Quality and Regulatory framework a consumer healthcare product must be developed within.

I then had the opportunity to make a complete change and moved to work as an Innovation Associate for Airwick. This pushed me outside my comfort zone, not only because I had to grasp a very different technical field quickly, but also a very different target consumer. I would say that Aircare is much more subjective and less functional than Healthcare; it’s important to understand the consumer’s frustrations & drivers and use these to guide technical innovation. This gives lots of opportunity for meeting and interacting with consumers, which is always great fun!

So your career so far has been particularly varied. You have been working with RB for around 3 years and held how many positions?

The Scholl & Durex Innovation Manager role will be my third position since joining RB

Which role so far has been your favourite?

That’s a difficult question, but I would say working in Aircare Innovation has been my favourite, despite also being the toughest! This role has enabled me to gain experience within a very fast paced, dynamic environment where a project can reach the shelf within 2-3 years from concept. At the Innovation end you require a strong understanding of the strategic vision for the brand and have the opportunity to really influence the future pipe-line. There is great autonomy and ownership to drive things forward and make things happen.

Have you always had a clear idea of your career path?

No, not at all. In the first stages of my career I took opportunities as they presented themselves and a set plan seemed too restrictive! What I would say is that I actively looked for opportunities at every stage to learn more about myself and develop. It was only when I joined RB that I started to realize the benefits of career planning. I have had a career plan for the last few years which maps out the responsibilities & experiences I would like to achieve moving forward, and the roles that would enable me to do this. It’s still important to keep it flexible because who knows where the next opportunity might arise, but it provides some direction and targets for me to proactively work towards my next role.

Why did RB stand out from the crowd for you?

Initially the big brands and exciting products! I wanted to be involved with making a difference for consumers. When I learnt more about the company I was impressed with the ownership and responsibility you get, not only in your day-to-day role but also in driving your career forward.

You career within RB so far has been very fast paced which fits well with our company culture and industry strategy. What do you see as the steps you took to achieve promotion from your current position to becoming a manager?

There are plenty, but these are my top 3:
- Developing a strong network and building relationships with key stakeholders
- Challenging myself to go above and beyond and then delivering
- Demonstrating the ability to lead and develop others

Do you think the step from Associate to Manager is large?

Yes, of course – it will be another steep learning curve and I’m sure there will be a few growing pains. But I’m excited by the challenge and looking forward to the extra responsibility – that’s what keeps me motivated at work!

What would be your top tip for candidates looking to apply to RB?

Be your own person and if you are motivated and driven to achieve great results through collaboration with others, RB is the place for you.

Thank you Helen, we wish you every success in your new role!

Helen demonstrates key drivers needed to succeed within RB, a personality driven by responsibility and achievement, the confidence to take real ownership of your work and someone who is always looking for the next challenge to take on. Reckitt Benckiser’s fast paced market strategy is reflected in the companies’ career progression and role movement. If you are serious about your career progression then RB is the place for you!

To briefly reintroduce myself, my name is Matt Dubow and I am a campus brand manager at the Pennsylvania State University. Hopefully you caught my first blog post, “Why does RB matter to college students?” I want to keep this post a bit more informal, but more importantly much more interactive. Walking around campus I often find great pleasure in the creativity students have in their use of Reckitt Benckiser’s Powerbrands. The products are embedded in college students’ daily routines and lifestyles, providing the value we look for on a budget, combined with powerful and effective results. As you become more dependent on Reckitt Benckiser to get you through your days, you may realize that a company with such reliable products may be a good fit as a potential employer!

With that being said, let’s take a look at the “5 Ways RB Solves College Problems!”

1. Cooking –

Stuck on campus and sick of the same dining hall food? I hear complaints every year about the lackluster food that is served at many universities, not to mention how our unpolished culinary skills don’t come close to filling the void from your family’s home cooking. One popular remedy to the bland culinary offerings at the university dining hall is the variety of Frank’s Red Hot Sauces and French’s Mustards. With so many flavors – Honey, Spicy Brown, Yellow, and Horseradish mustards and seven different varieties of Frank’s Red Hot sauces including Sweet Chili, Chili & Lime, Buffalo – your cooking combinations can sky rocket! Trust me – I know some terrible student cooks, but take that horrendous omelet and add a different RB condiment flavor everyday to make those teasing thoughts of Mom’s cooking a thing of the past.

2. Beauty –

Students have busy schedules so hitting the gym in between classes is a popular way to stay active. Penn State’s University fitness facilities see over one million student visitors a year! But with exercise comes sweat, and with sweat comes the acne that all college students dread! Clearasil’s Daily Wash is a convenient way to clean up after a quick exercise session, washing away your face’s dirt, oil, and bacteria so your face doesn’t suffer from your sweaty lifestyle! Short on time but absolutely need to shave to finish your perfect appearance? Veet provides “superior to shaving” smoothness with less of the hassle.

3. Cleaning –

Let’s face it, college students can be messy. From cluttered dorm rooms to old college houses, there are plenty of other ways students would rather spend their time than cleaning. Unfortunately the dishes pile up, bathrooms get dirty, and even though you are trying to hold off on doing your laundry, your hamper can’t take any more traffic. RB has a quick solution to these dreaded collegiate issues: add one Finish “power ball” to your dishwasher and those dirty plates that have been haunting your sink will be a thing of the past, use Lysol products to tackle those messy countertops and toilets, and Resolve for that funky stain on your carpet. These Powerbrands make the cleaning process simpler so college students can focus on their schoolwork . . . or tailgating the big game.

4. Health –

As the sun rises, you awake to that terrible nagging cold you haven’t been able to shake. Students are often short on sleep which leads to prolonged effects of sickness. Even worse, imagine you have a huge mid-term tomorrow but are tossing and turning with a terrible cough and cold. Delsym is there to play the hero – with day and nighttime varieties to help you make it through those long study sessions in the library or the nighttime jitters without fighting sickness. Need more power to clear up your chest? Try a Mucinex product – it helps loosen and thin out the mucus that causes congestion, so you can get rid of it.

5. Laundry -

It is a bit of a shock when college students move out on their own, and are soon forced to face the ever-growing mountain of dirty laundry. By the way, just throwing your stained jeans into your hamper doesn’t solve the problem. Just remain calm! Woolite and Vanish (or Spray “N” Wash), make laundry worries a thing of the past. Woolite effectively cleans and cares for all your clothes during washing without shape loss or fading. So now that sweatshirt will let you keep your university pride on display without the added color of that French’s mustard stain.

What are the ways Reckitt Benckiser makes your life easier? Have you been creative with any of these products? College students are always looking for suggestions – recipes, techniques, or new applications for RB products. Share your stories and your go-to products!

Hello everyone and welcome to my first Blog post!

As is tradition, I thought I would use this white space to properly introduce myself and give you a tasty snippet of what’s to come. I started at RB after taking a gap year to travel, something I fully recommend to anyone considering it, you’ll make memories you’ll never forget, plus a very weighty photo album – and then there is the ‘life experience’ for your CV .

Aircare

My first placement on the graduate scheme has been for Airwick – one of RB’s powerbrands which is sold in over 60 countries. Working in category development I manage projects in an R&D capacity from development to launch. I am really enjoying the exposure to the business as this is something which was missing from my previous jobs. My days are always really varied and I can be doing anything from visiting technical design agencies to holding TCs with our suppliers in China. I have real responsibility and freedom to make decisions which will effect the company’s progression.

One of my most exciting moments so far was seeing our new Airwick campaign on TV – I even made my friend rewind it on sky so we could watch it again!

FMCG

Working in FMCG I feel a real sense of pride unlike that when I worked in other industries. Every time I walk though a supermarket I see our products everywhere and it’s a great feeling to be able to say ‘I work for the company who makes that’. As the company is so fast paced, (we bring products to market in 2-3 years) its not long before you’ll be walking through the supermarket and you can say, ‘ I managed that product – that was me’.

Hull

Location, Location, Location – Hull really isn’t as bad as people say! I really enjoy living here – apart from the ice cold sea breeze in winter – eek! There is always something going on in the city centre and you are not far from Leeds, York and Beverly for a more scenic day out – or a crazy night! You can definitely get the work/life balance right at RB.

Are you thinking about applying for the RB graduate scheme? Leave me a question – I’d love to help!

If you are a tech-freak like me, you have most probably watched Steve jobs revealing the iPad 2 last Thursday. Out of nowhere RB came to my mind when seeing the new innovation by Apple. This is why I decided to dedicate this post to show you how Reckitt Benckiser is the Apple of FMCG.

Creativity

Apple is considered to be the most creative company in its field and that’s why many graduates put Apple on the top of their employment wish list. But if you always wanted to work for a FMCG company like me, Reckitt Benckiser is the beacon of innovation in the FMCG business. You might debate this comparison with me, or maybe you will ask for some evidence to prove my point. Well that’s no problem, just visit your nearest supermarket and head to air care, house cleaning, health care or any other category where RB exists and I bet you won’t find any other company having as many innovations as RB has.

It is no suprise to know that 35% of RB net revenues come from products launched in the last 3 years. There is nothing as status quo in RB, you dream, plan and then outperform. A very simple formula that RB folks know by heart, think big and head ahead of the competition. At RB, we will never be happy to come second and our brands are a living example of how RB is always leading the way; Dettol, Vanish, Durex, Finish, Strepsils and many more are only few examples of RB Powerbrands that are the number 1 brands in their categories around the world.

Innovation

If you are still not convinced that RB is the Apple of FMCG, I will give you another example; when the world thought the laptops market can’t have more innovations, Apple came up with iPad to revamp this industry. Same thing happened in the air care category; when everyone thought of air fresheners as an ‘aerosol can’; RB came up with the Airwick Freshmatic innovation. An automatic gadget that automatically refresh your house. Another example is the Dettol No touch hand wash system which is an automatic Hand wash gadget that has a motion sensor to dispense the hand wash liquid.

Such innovations reshape peoples understanding of those categories and bring major solutions that make life much easier. This is how RB is living up to its vision by delivering better solutions in household, health, and personal care to consumers, wherever they may be through constant innovation. To sum this up, at RB, creativity is our bread and butter. Can you think of any other example that shows how creative Reckitt Benckiser products are? Let the discussion begin.

Innovation is a widely used term across the professional industry, but what exactly is it?

‘The creation of new ideas or things, forward looking and ahead of current thinking.’

RB takes pride at being at the forefront of innovation, 40% of our net revenue is generated from products launched in the last 3 years. At RB, innovation leads our performance; we encourage bold thinking and creative ideas. However, innovation is much more than just thinking of new product ideas, it is utilised in every role, whether that be formulating solutions in the test labs or exploring new research tools.

A few months ago I was luckily enough to attend a consumer panel, listening and analysing consumers discussing the Strepsils brand. The insights were very interesting and it was very beneficial for me in understanding a consumer mindset. At RB we are always in contact with consumers, we listen, watch and interact with them. Our innovation strives on consumer insight, which in turn creates products that meet their needs and requirements.

As a result we encourage ideas, products and technologies from outside the company. Idea Link is just one effective tool to allow external sources to input. Every day we receive ideas and inventions and it is our job to turn those in to relevant consumer solutions.

So why is RB so innovative?

‘Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower’ – Steve Jobs, Apple CEO.

As a consumer driven company, RB must not only meet the obvious identified needs, but aims to create products that solve problems consumers didn’t know existed. To achieve this RB must innovative above and beyond the current market, looking to the future and setting the pace for others to follow.

RB’s successful innovation isn’t a result of a process or technique within the company, it relies on attitude, RB folk have innovation embedded in to them, utilizing their creativity, passion and energy at every possible moment.

So if you have innovation, talent and drive that needs sharing, check out the latest opportunities suited to you – careers.